DEBORAH - meaning “bee” Deborah’s story is a very interesting one. In a time where men were called to be kings, prophets and judges, God called Deborah, a woman, to be a judge and prophet to Israel. Before Deborah, Judge Ehud delivered Israel from the Moabites and Israel lived in peace for about 80 years, (Judges 3). After Ehud died, the Israelites started with their evil and wicked ways again and for the next 20 years, the Israelites suffered horrible oppression under Jabin, the king of Canaan. A man called Sisera was the leader and commander of Jabin’s armies. Judges 4 recalls how during this time, God called Deborah to be a judge and a prophet. She always sat under a tree (later called the Tree of Deborah) between Ramah and Bethel. Deborah asked to speak to Barak, who was a commander of the armies of the Israelites. She wanted to know from him why he did not follow the command God gave him to take the armies and go and defeat Sisera, as God promised that Barak would be victorious. Barak told Deborah that he would only go out to make war if Deborah accompanied him. Without hesitation, she agreed to go with, prophesying to Barak that he would get no glory as Sisera would be killed by the hand of a woman. Deborah joined Barak and with 10 000 men they went up to the armies of Sisera. During the fight, Sisera fled and all the men in his army died. Sisera ended up at the tent of Jael – the wife of Heber. She said she would shelter him and after he fell asleep, she drove a tent pen through his head and killed him. In Judges 5, Deborah and Barak sang a song and Deborah gave full glory and credit to Jael who killed Sisera. We learn from Deborah’s story that God can call on women to fulfil His extraordinary plans. She was fearless, courageous and obedient in answering God’s call. She was also humble and gave credit to others. God can call anyone to accomplish His will. Be brave and have courage!